A woman has been jailed after shoplifting from supermarkets across the county.

Between July and September last year, Amy Jones, 31, of no fixed address, stole from Co-op, Tesco Express, Waterstones and M&S stores in Shoreham, Worthing and Hove.

In total, she stole more than £2,000 worth of stock in 18 incidents.

Jones was also charged with assaulting a security guard for an incident at an M&S store in Montague Street, Worthing, on July 10.

In an appearance at Lewes Crown Court on December 15, she was sentenced to 12 months in prison, handed a three-year criminal behaviour order and fined £187 compensation.

Sergeant Sam Milson said: “We take shoplifting very seriously and those who think they can get away with it will be sentenced.

“The team worked really hard to collate all of the incidents and this wouldn’t have happened without their persistence.”